Picture This Productionshttp://www.picturethis.ca
Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:47:47 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.5.9Will Augmented Reality Be the Future of Video Marketing?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/picture-this-blog/~3/WijpLfqApzQ/
http://www.picturethis.ca/2018/01/25/will-augmented-reality-be-the-future-of-video-marketing/#respondThu, 25 Jan 2018 12:30:25 +0000http://www.picturethis.ca/?p=3746Our first blog post of 2018 is a quick guide to the hot topic of Augmented Reality (AR), what it will mean to consumers and those of us who make content for them.

You probably already know about VR, short for Virtual Reality, computer-generated environments that are so immersive, users react to them the way they would do something in real life. For the past few years, it seemed like VR might become the next big thing in filmmaking and marketing but so far, the cumbersome headgear and paucity of content hasn’t lived up to the early expectations.

And now there’s AR – Augmented Reality. If VR tries to replace your reality, AR aims to enhance it – and without the bulky headgear. Pundits now predict that AR will be the next big marketing wave – they estimate that the AR market could be worth $210 billion Canadian by 2024. So the start of 2018 is a good moment to delve into the current state of AR and look ahead into its future. Here are four articles to help you get started:

A storyboard is a shot by shot graphic representation based on your video’s script. It looks a little like a graphic novel or comic book, one that takes your video’s dialogue and visual sequences and translates them into shot-by-shot drawings. It’s the second big step in taking a video concept to screen, coming just after the important scripting stage.

How does it work?

Storyboarding should be a collaborative process between the client and production company. Typically there will be at least one stage of feedback where the client studies and approves the storyboard or requests changes. The goal is to illustrate the vision for the client before getting to the expensive shooting stage.

Every phrase in the video’s script will be represented on the page in a frame, and sometimes with several frames if the line of the script requires multiple camera moves.

What is one line on paper “ ZOOM IN from Exterior building through window past boss to stop on branded coffee mug in employee’s hand” might requires several drawings to illustrate. Here is what that storyboard might look like:

Why do it?

The production team may hire a storyboard artist, particularly where a highly polished version is need ( i.e. when you need to convince stakeholders of a concept) or when animation is needed. Some directors can sketch a simple storyboard themselves by hand or by using still photos. Whether amateur or professionally drawn, a storyboard will contain ensure the client and crew can easily picture and approve the video before filming begins.

Does Your Project Really Need a Storyboard?

Storyboarding does add some extra time and an extra cost into the pre-production process and not every video needs it. But in some cases, it offers certain advantages:

a) For visually complex sequences: You may not need to storyboard your entire video but complicated sequences with many camera moves or many people moving in and out of frame would benefit from it.

b) For better team communication: When everyone on the team knows what shots they are aiming to reproduce, misinterpretations or misunderstandings are reduced. Meanwhile, the client won’t be guessing or imagining, perhaps wrongly, about how shots and camera movements will unfold- they will confidently know what to expect.

c) Save production time & money: Pre-planning means less time and money used in the expensive production phase when equipment and crew members are charging by the hour.The crew goes in knowing what they need to achieve and can budget the right amount of time, equipment and crew to capture each sequence.

When don’t you need a storyboard?

While pre-visualizing concepts can be invaluable for complex sequences. Unpredictable live events, simple talking head videos or very basic visual sequences typically do not require the use of storyboarding.

Not sure if storyboarding can be an invaluable tool for your next corporate video? Contact us to get help get a clearer picture !

With September here and students back in the classroom, many adults also feel the pull towards gaining new skills. Why not use the changing of the season to learn something new – like how to best use the power of video for your business?

We’ve gone back through our blog archives and put together semester’s worth of posts that will help you brush up on your video marketing knowledge.

* BUDGETING 101 and 102

Basic Budgeting : Eager to start using more video but have no idea what it might cost? Here are some basic guidelines on what your budget planning should entail.

Sticking to Budget : Got the budget planned but want to be sure your video production sticks to it? This article will help you keep your video in the black as it goes through planning, production and post-production phases.

* CREATING THE PERFECT CONCEPT

Corporate videos don’t need to be boring!Here are some great examples to enlighten your next project.

Narration can be fun, exciting and even inspiring.Here are some ways to make the words as interesting as the images in your next video.

* HOW TO GET YOUR VIDEOS MORE WIDELY SEEN

Make it mobile friendly :Ensuring your video looks as great on a mobile device as it does on a laptop or desktop is easy to do with these few tips.

Helping viewers find your videos : Putting your video up on YouTube is easy. Getting the right viewers to see it isn’t. Seven tips to get the eyeballs you want to your videos.

Creating enticing screen grabs : A picture either entices people to click on your video or go onto the next one. Here are six pieces of advice to create thumbnails that will grab viewers’ attention.

Need any further tutoring on the subject of video marketing and corporate production? Contact us!

]]>http://www.picturethis.ca/2017/09/07/back-to-school-educate-yourself-about-corporate-videos/feed/0http://www.picturethis.ca/2017/09/07/back-to-school-educate-yourself-about-corporate-videos/The Future is Now: VR and Video Marketinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/picture-this-blog/~3/lldFrcXl8ak/
http://www.picturethis.ca/2017/01/16/the-future-is-now-vr-and-video-marketing/#respondMon, 16 Jan 2017 18:11:01 +0000http://www.picturethis.ca/?p=3412It’s a new year- the perfect time to ask what’s coming in the year ahead. Some of our clients have been asking “Should we use VR in our next video?” Excellent question! But let’s go back a little to understand what VR is, and what it can and can’t do.

For Starters: What is VR?

For those who aren’t in the know, VR, short for Virtual Reality combines computer technology with a goggle-like visual display device to create an interactive 3D environment. Rather than watching a video on a conventional screen in front of you, when wearing the device you become fully immersed in a convincing simulated world that seems to be all around you. Technophiles have been following the evolution over several years, but it’s only very recently that cameras and viewing options have become more affordable and less cumbersome.

There are two types of VR setups used to record images:

Multi-camera VR rigs: To get a 360 degree field of view, several wide-angle-lensed cameras (usually three or more) are fitted on a circular rig, each camerapointing in a different direction.

All-in-one VR cameras use the same principle of using multiple cameras to capture 360-degree footage – except the multiple cameras are engineered into one self-contained device. They are aimed at the home consumer market and professionals looking for an easy entry into VR content. These all-in-one solutions are less expensive and easier to set up and operate than a multi-camera rig. Samsung’s Gear 360 is a small twin-camera system but requires a Samsung Galaxy phone to record and manage the data. Finally, if you have the chops (and the bucks), there are professional all-in-one VR devices like Nokia’s OZO system, which retails at a cool $45,000US!

Viewing VR content also needs special equipment:

Two types of head-mounted displays (or HMD’s) currently exist. The most economical solution is based around a conventional smartphone. The headset itself is like a pair of ski goggles with focusable lenses and a slot to house your smartphone. But the user might be underwhelmed by the experience – the image quality is only as good as the phone inserted in it!

The other available HMD is the PC-connected type. These give the best VR experience with motion sensors and movement-simulating gyros but need to be wire-tethered to a computer powerful enough to send decent graphics to the dual 1080p screens inside the headset. If you’re into gaming, your PC should have processor able to handle these headsets. PC HMD’s are much more expensive than the smartphone type and can be intimidating for people who aren’t computer savvy.

Why are Creators and Marketers investing in VR?

Filmmakers, game developers and marketers alike all see the potential of this new brand new medium. The challenge is finding new ways to create memorable experiences using the technology. The fact that viewers are completely immersed and engaged in the experience, with fewer distractions from the outside world, allows them to focus more on the content and the message. Also, our brains are built to better remember events and experiences if linked to locations, so unlike a traditional film, game or book, VR can prolong a viewer’s memory retention of that experience due to its unique “just like you’re there” nature. Finally, VR is still quite the novelty. With public interest and high media coverage, it only makes sense for early adopters to get their hands on VR production while people are still curious about it.

So What About my Next Video in VR?

For starters, because of the newer expensive cameras, sound gear and editing software needed to create an immersive experience, expect to pay more for your video than what you normally budget. Substantially more.

But just as in any other medium, no matter what the cost, mediocre content is still mediocre content. Just because you own a VR camera doesn’t mean you can point and shoot, then expect to wow an audience.

Here’s a video that showcases some of the best use cases of VR marketing so far, according to Mbryonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntYlLGTLrDE

The Bottom Line?

As with each new media technology that comes along, there needs to be a creative vision behind it to get the best out of it. Whatever the format, innovative storytelling and creating emotional experiences will still be key to creating memorable videos. Being a successful VR content creator will mean coming up with innovative ways to use the technology for your service or product. Otherwise, it could just end up being another gimmick, much like 3D in past years.

]]>http://www.picturethis.ca/2017/01/16/the-future-is-now-vr-and-video-marketing/feed/0http://www.picturethis.ca/2017/01/16/the-future-is-now-vr-and-video-marketing/Nine New Videos to Recruit Future Students!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/picture-this-blog/~3/ovU26JkhMFE/
http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/10/06/nine-new-videos-to-recruit-future-students/#respondThu, 06 Oct 2016 20:40:49 +0000http://www.picturethis.ca/?p=3300For students and parents making the big decision of what university to choose, the process can be stressful. It’s even harder if the school is somewhere the student and family can’t visit. Concordia University came up with a way to help ease some of that anxiety: a multi-part video series that gives prospective students and their parents a look into all aspects of life at the school. The short videos are hosted by real Concordia students and cover everything from study possibilities, student services, the vast range of extracurricular activities and even where to live and eat on and around campus!

Picture This scripted the videos in consultation with the University’s Communications and recruiting teams. We then held a casting process, auditioning over 25 eager students to hone it down to the final five who were the most comfortable on camera. We filmed over four months in just about every lab, studio, study space and cafeteria on both campuses, even diving right into students’ dorm rooms. The final videos were released in the fall of 2016 and will be an important online recruiting tool for Concordia over the next three years.

]]>http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/10/06/nine-new-videos-to-recruit-future-students/feed/0http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/10/06/nine-new-videos-to-recruit-future-students/7 Ways to Make Your Workplace a Great Filming Locationhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/picture-this-blog/~3/cTJmXCLZ3_4/
http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/09/20/7-ways-to-make-your-workplace-a-great-filming-location/#respondTue, 20 Sep 2016 15:13:28 +0000http://www.picturethis.ca/?p=3263Bringing cameras to your office or manufacturing facility means is like getting ready for a mini invasion. On the plus side, it’s convenient for those being filmed, and it’s the ideal way to show off your work areas, processes, and team. But it can cause some disruption in the usual workflow. Here’s a checklist to keep things moving as quickly, smoothly and efficiently as possible!

Location Scouting: Ideally, the camera team should visit your premises before the shoot to scout out the best places to set –up and film, in terms of lighting, sound, and potential problem areas. If that isn’t possible, having someone at the company take photos of your facility a few days prior to filming can also help.

Access! Arrange for nearby parking and unloading areas, as your film crews may have several cases of lights and other equipment. Also advise security staff of their presence, especially after hours or on weekends, when they might otherwise be locked in or out by security systems

Get everyone on board: Explain to your staff what is going to happen during filming, when and for approximately how long. The director can assist via email or phone beforehand by addressing frequently asked questions and concerns –like what to wear and what they might be asked to do or say.

Tidy Up! Be sure to clean up clutter, messy desks, and workspaces – we’ve had to edit out shots and even delete complete scenes when clients later found the on-screen disorder gave a bad impression of their company. Also check the walls and shelves for posters, calendars and personal material that you wouldn’t want to be seen on camera, whether for copyright reasons or other taste issues.

A Knowledgeable Guide: Arrange for one person from your organization to be a dedicated guide and facilitator for the film crew the day of filming. Their job will be to accompany them through the facilities, manage employees who might be needed on camera, and open doors for the crew (sometimes literally!)

Off Limits: Advise the crew of any proprietary equipment, processes or areas that should not be filmed before of even during filming. But do know that you will have another chance to remove these problem images during the editing process should any make it on-screen unintentionally.

Camera shy? People who rather not appear, even in the background, should be asked to move to a different area while cameras are rolling. If that isn’t possible, the camera team can choose angles that don’t show the workers or only their backs.

Is your organization ready for a promotional or training video to be filmed on its premises? Contact us for a free quote to get things rolling.

]]>http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/09/20/7-ways-to-make-your-workplace-a-great-filming-location/feed/0http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/09/20/7-ways-to-make-your-workplace-a-great-filming-location/Using Drone Video: Why, When and How Much Will It Cost?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/picture-this-blog/~3/kQlvQ6zwOJo/
http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/08/24/using-drone-video-why-when-and-how-much-will-it-cost/#respondWed, 24 Aug 2016 14:00:13 +0000http://www.picturethis.ca/?p=3226Drone videography (filming by unmanned quadcopter) feels like the biggest thing to hit video production since the GoPro, the tiny attachable camera. The truth is that that this kind of aerial videography is not so new: camera operators have been filming from helicopters for years. What is novel is that in skilled hands, these agile crafts can artfully combine the look of a dolly, crane, and helicopter while flying as low as 10 feet above ground.

But could aerial shots best deliver a real punch for your video? How much does it cost? And what legal aspects do you as a client need to know? Tom Comet, experienced drone pilot and founder of Toronto based Drone Boy spoke with us to explain the basics on incorporating this relatively new technology into productions.

THE COSTS

If you live in one of the Canadian TV and film production hubs, Toronto, Vancouver and to a lesser extent, Montreal, expect costs to start at about $1500 for a single camera half day package (4 hours on set). Full 8 hour days will start at about $2000. Productions in smaller urban centres may find those costs 15-25% lower.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

Drones can fly for 14-18 minutes at one shot before they need to change memory cards. A skilful pilot can get several excellent takes in a half day shoot, depending on the complexity of what he or she is shooting.

IMPORTANT LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

Before you balk at the price and start thinking about hiring an amateur drone flyer to get your website’s shots, realize that your commercial flight must meet Transport Canada’s strict legal and safety standards. Not only will a highly trained, professional team consistently achieve spectacular shots, they also know the legal requirements for drone photography, like:

Drones cannot fly over active roads, highways or public areas.

All commercial drone flights in Canada require a 2 person crew: one to fly the drone while another acts as visual observer.

They also require a S.F.O.C. (Special Flight Operations Certificate) and proof of insurance, usually $5 million dollars worth.

Drones can not be flown over 100 feet without special approval from Transport Canada

Hiring an amateur uninsured drone operator can yield fines for both the drone operator and company doing the hiring in the $5000-$25 000 range.

There is also the safety aspect. “Drones can never be flown over people’s heads.” Tom explains. “You may have seen shots that appear to fly much closer than 100 feet but that’s because experienced drone team use flying tricks to capture this effect while staying within the regulations.”

WHEN TO USE A DRONE?

There are certain types of promotional videos that just beg for aerial visuals. We’ve picked a few of our favourites:

Tourism & Travel

Aside from car commercials and action films, this is likely the place where you’ve seen the most drone use. The tourism industry is quickly realizing that drone shots can go where a traditional camera can’t and make it obvious to clients why they will want to visit your hotel, resort, attraction or region. While drone visuals probably can’t tell the whole story on their own, combined with ground visuals, you can create a compelling tool to bring tourist dollars to your location. Tourism Quebec took advantage of the possibilities of drone videography in this video showcasing breathtaking views of our province.

Real Estate

Aerial videography works brilliantly for higher end properties and real estate. Potential buyers don’t just see the structure, they can soak in the landscape, the layout of the property and the neighbourhood surrounding it. Even if the building isn’t yet constructed, buyers can still get a spectacular view from the 25th floor! In this video for instance, 360hometours uses drone videography to compliment the amazing surroundings of a West Vancouver home

The Construction Industry

A drone can follow the progress of a construction project in a way nothing else can – making it easy for clients to get a complete view over time and from many angles. Drone videography and photography are also very useful in capturing hazardous or hard to reach locations or sections of a project. In this video, M7 Aerial even manages to make a construction site quite beautiful!

Trade Shows, Conferences, Galas and Special Events

Taken from an aerial view, you can show off your indoor or outdoor event location, crowds and set-up in a most impressive way. This kind of coverage is often best combined with ground videography. However, you’ll need to do your homework: check with the venue to ensure their comfort level with the technology. The Chromatic Festival in Montreal was filmed from even higher than Mont Royal thanks to a drone giving magnificent footage of this event.

Special Marketing Campaigns

Outside of the obvious car shots, many brands are realizing the value of using drone videography. 2015 was the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag and Canadian Tire created a stunning and massively shareable Fly Your Canadian Flag video using Droneboy’s team to capture the aerial images, that was seen over 1 million times at launch and 6 million more since then.

Think aerial coverage could make your next video production soar? Contact us to do some ‘blue sky’ planning.

]]>http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/08/24/using-drone-video-why-when-and-how-much-will-it-cost/feed/0http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/08/24/using-drone-video-why-when-and-how-much-will-it-cost/5 examples of great onboarding videoshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/picture-this-blog/~3/Dr1poYOncys/
http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/07/11/5-examples-of-great-onboarding-videos-videos-that-work-to-gain-and-retain-new-hires-part-i/#respondMon, 11 Jul 2016 11:00:22 +0000http://www.picturethis.ca/?p=3182Videos That Work to Gain and Retain New Hires (Part I)

Many statistics show that employees who are formally on boarded, (that is, inducted to their new job in a structured way), have higher job satisfaction and far lower turnover rates that those who are given an informal job entry (usually a quick worksite tour and a stack of documents or web pages to read.) With the high workload and hefty costs of hiring and training new employees (an average cost of $10,731 according to the 2012 Allied Workforce Mobility Survey, you want to do everything in your power to retain new hires.

Here are five organizations that are using the power of video in differing but equally effective ways to attract and welcome new employees.

DISCOVER THE COMPANY CULTURE

1. Coast and Country Housing

This charming video from England plays like a TV commercial, introducing team members at their jobs but also with their secret passions, from baking cupcakes to being regional darts champions. It manages to set up Coast & Country as a warm, welcoming place for all kinds of people to work without a single talking head:

MEET THE CEO!

2. Joe Gear New Employee Welcome Video

This personal and passionate message from CEO Rudy Niswanger feels sincere, has great energy in shooting style and music, and introduces new hires to the captain of their industry ship.

3. Dunkin Donuts Welcome Video

This video introduces new hires to the president of Great American Donut, Scott Fanning, while also laying out their three tenants of a great customer experience.

PRIDE IN WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

4. University of Maryland New Employees

This carefully scripted and artfully shot video nicely showcases all that is wonderful and welcoming about the neighbourhood, facilities and community of College Park, Maryland. While the opening welcome by the president of the university seems a little stilted, the rest of the video is framed with beautiful images, the voices and faces of the people who live there, and enough inspiring history of the region to inspire people to apply to work at this University

5. St George’s Hospital

A proud, heartwarming video that creatively highlights how each part of the hospital staff makes a difference in healing patients. Everyone from receptionists to transport staff to surgeons are shown as an important part of the team in this beautifully shot video that uses music and onscreen titles to craft a powerful sense of workplace pride.

Inspired? We’ll be following in the autumn with specific tips on how to create great onboarding videos that will help employees understand a company’s mission, values, and culture. But if you can’t wait, contact us now to discuss your company’s future induction video.

Audiences expect seamless video playback on every mobile device – over 50% of online videos are watched on cell phones. Are your videos living up to your clients’ expectations? Scan our checklist to be sure!

WITHIN THE VIDEO

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: To connect emotionally with viewers, close-ups and medium shots should be the rule. Don’t forget Long and Extreme Long Shots, but in most cases, sparinguse is better.

GO SHORT: In general, under 2 minutes, and often under 1 minute, still rules as ideal timeframe for keeping viewer attention.

BOLD GRAPHICS, BIG TITLES: Graphics, titles and title cards need to be easily legible on a hand-held screen. Be sure yours are big enough to be seen.

BOLD THUMBNAILS: A thumbnail image is the postage stamp-sized one that will grab viewers to watch your video. One bold image and succinct, large text is ideal. For more advice on creating the perfect thumbnail, read our post on Creating Thumbnails That Entice Viewers .

CALL TO ACTION: Make sure that any CTAs (Calls To Action, like an email sign up or requesting a quote) in your video works equally well for mobile users as for laptops. Not sure how to include a CTA? Read this post!

AROUND THE VIDEO

MAKE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE DESIGN RESPONSIVE: People won’t watch your video, let alone explore your site or purchase your product, if your site is not well designed for mobiles. Free your mobile landing page version of extraneous text and images so viewers can get the full impact of your video and the most important website messages.

ANY SIZE, ANYWHERE: Make sure your video sizes are ‘device agnostic’. That means that your video content works on iPhones (640px wide), Android phones, tablets and a large monitor (1920px). Content hosted on popular video sharing sites like Youtube and Vimeo will automatically adjust video sizes to accommodate the device, so aim for the highest resolution possible to achieve maximum effect on big devices.

THE NAME GAME: Use mobile friendly titles- front loaded with the most important words you need viewers to read because if they don’t see them, they won’t click on the video!

Need advice on making your next video for any and all platforms? Contact us for more info.

]]>http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/06/14/making-sure-your-video-is-mobile-friendly/feed/0http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/06/14/making-sure-your-video-is-mobile-friendly/How to Use Online Video for Small and Medium Sized Businesseshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/picture-this-blog/~3/UVnJgsUznkU/
http://www.picturethis.ca/2016/05/06/how-to-use-online-video-for-small-and-medium-sized-businesses/#respondFri, 06 May 2016 18:07:44 +0000http://www.picturethis.ca/?p=3073Do you believe only big businesses with hefty marketing budgets can afford to use video? If you’re thinking TV commercial ad buys during the Super Bowl, you’re right. But small and medium sized companies can and should use online video in their marketing in straight-forward, cost-effective ways.

Let’s start with three examples of Canadian and US businesses that are using video to get a great return on this marketing investment.

1) Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply: Educating Their Clients

In 1996, husband and wife team Eric and Pattie Bouldier purchased Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply, a business dating from 1976 in Grass Valley, California. They’ve since established themselves as leaders in the field of organic supplies, in part by leading the way in online video marketing. They are constantly adding videos to their YouTube series to educate the home organic gardener and canner. And that knowledge creates a greater need for their products! Here’s one simple example starring Pattie:

2) Doucette & Wolfe Furniture: Showing The Manufacturing ProcessDoucette and Wolfe Furniture is a two person custom furniture shop in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Their website looks, well, very old school. But they’re using video and social media to build a client base far outside their region by showcasing their highly skilled building techniques. Their simple videos often rack up over 100 000 views each and introduce new potential clients to their fine woodworking.

3) Spector and Co: Supporting Their Sales TeamSpector and Co is a Montreal based supplier of promotional and business gifts that often uses videos to help their sales team demystify their higher tech offerings. This video below shows off two of their customizable power banks while also instructing both salespeople and potential clients on how to best use them:

But Can We Afford It As A Smaller Business?

Yes, there is a cost to making videos like these- and that will likely start in the low thousands per video for a multi-part video series. Pricing will vary with the length and complexity of each video. But once you establish your budgeting sweet spot, you can set goals that will rationalize the cost. For example, the statistics on using a landing page or product video for websites speak loudly:

And when consumers are seriously in the market to buy, viewers who watched a product video are 144% more likely to purchase a product than those who don’t, reports housewares e-retailer StacksandStacks.com

Wondering what your ideal video or video series would cost? And musing on how you can maximize its use for your organization? Contact us to discuss how video can economically and effectively become a part of your business marketing strategy.